MOBILE, AL — Tim Tebow will have a familiar face to throw to later this month at the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl. Florida wide receiver Riley Cooper, Tebow’s roommate, has officially accepted an invitation to the senior showcase event, game officials announced Saturday. Kickoff for the 61st game is scheduled for 3 p.m. (CST) on January 30th in Mobile’s Ladd-Peebles Stadium. The game and all practices will be televised by the NFL Network.
Cooper, who was part of Florida’s outstanding 2006 recruiting class along with Tebow, will be playing in the Senior Bowl and will attend the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Cooper also has a decision to make about professional baseball. Cooper has a contract pending with the Texas Rangers that was negotiated during the summer before he decided to return to the University of Florida for his senior season.
And what a senior season it was.
Cooper made second team All-SEC with 51 catches for 961 yards and nine touchdowns. He was second on the team in receptions, but led the Gators in yardage and touchdown catches. Cooper ranked among the SEC’s best receivers, finishing third in receiving yards, fifth in yards per game (68.64) and ninth in receptions per game (3.64).
A native of Clearwater, Cooper finished his Florida career with 81 receptions, 1,496 receiving yards and 18 touchdowns. He saved his best outing for last — setting career highs in receptions (7), receiving yards (181) and longest reception (80) in Florida’s Sugar Bowl victory over Cincinnati.
Tickets for the 2010 Under Armour Senior Bowl are currently available for purchase at the Senior Bowl ticket offices (151 Dauphin Street), online at http://www.seniorbowl.com or by calling (251) 432-4109.